Written Question · S4W-20773 · Session 4
What financial incentives in addition to universal fees it offers to optometrists to improve uptake of eye tests by people (a) with learnin…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial incentives in addition to universal fees it offers to optometrists to improve uptake of eye tests by people (a) with learning difficulties, (b) with impaired capacity, (c) from deprived households, (d) whose first language is not English and (e) from ethnic minority communities.
The answer
There are no financial incentives in addition to the present fees that optometrists may claim for carrying out free NHS eye examinations in their practices.
Free NHS eye examinations are universal and available to the whole population which is reflected in the current fee structure.
Although we don’t provide any additional incentives to optometrists in order to improve uptake of NHS eye examinations by such groups we do recognise the additional needs of some groups. For this reason optometrists can visit certain approved day centres to provide NHS eye examinations for patients who would have difficulty in obtaining services from practice premises because of their particular needs. The types of patients who could be seen include, those whose first language is not English who are new to the UK and require the service of an interpreter.
In addition, optometrists may undertake domiciliary visits to patient’s homes or residential homes in order to provide NHS eye examinations where the patient cannot leave home unaccompanied because of their particular needs, such as people with dementia or other disability. An additional fee is payable for undertaking domiciliary visits.
Free NHS eye examinations are universal and available to the whole population which is reflected in the current fee structure.
Although we don’t provide any additional incentives to optometrists in order to improve uptake of NHS eye examinations by such groups we do recognise the additional needs of some groups. For this reason optometrists can visit certain approved day centres to provide NHS eye examinations for patients who would have difficulty in obtaining services from practice premises because of their particular needs. The types of patients who could be seen include, those whose first language is not English who are new to the UK and require the service of an interpreter.
In addition, optometrists may undertake domiciliary visits to patient’s homes or residential homes in order to provide NHS eye examinations where the patient cannot leave home unaccompanied because of their particular needs, such as people with dementia or other disability. An additional fee is payable for undertaking domiciliary visits.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-20773 by reference.